The Art of Seeing: India 2018

immersive photography adventure

“This is India; the land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendor and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genii and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of a thousand nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of tradition...” - Mark Twain, Following the Equator, 1897

In many ways, not much has changed since Mark Twain's visit over a century ago. India is still a land of contrasts carved by deep rivers of spirituality and history. In other ways, change dominates every aspect of Indian society today. Fully exploring, much less understanding this vast nation in a single brief visit is a fool's errand, but we can attempt to catch authentic glimpses of the India of yesterday and today throughout our image making adventure. Our itinerary covers the best of the must see monuments including the incomparable Taj Mahal, but we veer off the beaten path early and often in search of more genuine visions of Indian life. From the chaotic crowds of new and old Delhi, to the joyful energy of color-filled Holi Festival celebrations, to an overnight camel safari among the sand dunes, to the heady atmosphere of India's spiritual capital, Varanasi, the opportunities to make memorable photographs on this journey are literally endless.

I will be with you each step of the way to help you make the most of these opportunities. We will work together in groups and one-to-one to help you better understand your equipment, master new techniques, and expand your creative vision. I especially enjoy teaching practical ways to develop your 'photographer's eye', but I'm happy to work with you on any aspect of the image making process. This year we are blessed to have outstanding local photographer, Harsh Agarwal, on board as assistant instructor and guide. His local knowledge and understanding of photographers' needs will be an invaluable asset.

Workshop Highlights

colorful Holi

Holi is an explosion colors and joy

Holi, India's Festival of Colors is a riotous celebration of the arrival of Spring. Enthusiastic revelers 'play Holi' with handfuls of colored powders that are thrown, rubbed, and smeared over everything and everyone. Holi is not a spectator sport, participation is mandatory. Rich, poor, tourist or local, no one is exempt. But it's all in the spirit of celebration and good fun. In fact, another name for Holi is the Festival of Sharing Love.

"Let the colors of Holi spread the message of peace and happiness." - Anonymous

No matter what you call it, it's an amazing spectacle to see and even more so to photograph. Precautions must be taken to protect cameras and lenses but Holi is an event no photographer should pass up. Our itinerary is crafted so that we experience Holi celebrations in several times and places including a very special version of the festivities known as Lathmar Holi, where the women of one village, armed with sticks, beat back the advances of the men from the neighboring village in a mock reenactment of an ancient legend.

The magnificent taj

"There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who have seen the Taj Mahal and love it, and those who have not seen the Taj Mahal..."

Some sights simply live up to the hype. No matter how mesmerizing the photographs you have seen, no matter how grandiose the descriptions you've read, your first glimpse of the magnificent Taj Mahal is inevitably a breathtaking experience. Known as the World's Greatest Monument to Love, the story behind the Taj is almost as inspiring as the marble masterpiece itself. This icon deserves the time to be carefully considered with our cameras and we will pay it proper homage with multiple opportunities to photograph the Taj Mahal from various vantage points and in different lighting conditions. You will have your opportunity to make the classic reflecting pool photo, but we will also look for more unique perspectives including some not usually available to tourists.

ANCIENT VARANASI

"Varanasi is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together." - Mark Twain

Traditional silk weaving is still done on hand looms

On the banks of the Ganges River, the holy city of Varanasi is not only India's spiritual capital, but the world's oldest continuously inhabited city. It's also my favorite place to photograph in India. On this voyage, we arrive in Varanasi via overnight train. Early morning on the historic stone ghats (terraces) that line the river bank is a magical experience. Mist filtered sunrise light bathes young monks practicing yoga in warmth as the first pilgrims of the day arrive seeking blessings in the waters of Hinduism's holiest river. Actually, life on the ghats is supremely photogenic at any time and we will spend a good portion of our time there, but Varanasi has yet more to offer. Poignant scenes of everyday life await discovery in its winding streets and markets. This is also the center of India's silk weaving industry and much of the work is done in the surrounding villages by hand using traditional equipment and techniques. We will get a taste of rural life in India as we visit with and photograph these master artisans at work. Be prepared to be mobbed by curious children who may have never seen a foreigner.

Delhi

Sprawling Delhi is India's capital and the beginning and end point of our journey. Nowhere is the clash of old and new more apparent with its 25 million inhabitants making their lives and living amidst luxury townhomes, the remnants of colonial rule, and ruins dating back millennia. Here we can find a bit of everything: serenity and self reflection watching locals practicing meditation and yoga at sunrise in the gardens of Humayun's Tomb; commerce and chaos in the maze of Old Delhi's crooked narrow lanes; compassion embodied in a Sikh temple that serves 10,000 free meals daily; tradition and craftsmanship in the Kumhar Gram, a potters colony reputed to be the world's largest but largely unknown even among locals.

Jodhpur, the blue city

Jodhpur exudes an incredibly relaxing vibe that makes you want to do nothing but park yourself on a rooftop terrace with a cool beverage and stare at massive Mehrangarh Fort dominating the skyline. The only problem is that there is so much to explore and photograph here, as well. The once ubiquitous blue facades of the old city are slowly disappearing but still make striking backdrops for scenes of everyday life. Early morning is a great time to visit Jaswant Thada, an ornate monument to a former Maharaja carved from white marble. Later, as the sun and temperatures climb, is an ideal time to explore the interior of hilltop Mehrangarh Fort from which fantastically wealthy rulers once surveyed their domain. Bustling Sadar market underneath the old city's historic clocktower is an experience to remember and photograph. With so much to see, maybe the relaxing will have to wait.

pushkar desert adventure

Pushkar on the edge of India's great Thar desert is a small rural town famous for its annual camel fair which attracts tens of thousands of livestock traders and tourists. The town is built around Pushkar Lake, a holy Hindu pilgrimage site which contains one of the few temples dedicated to the god Brahma. The lake, temple, and pilgrims make wonderful subjects for early morning photography but the highlight of our visit here is an overnight desert camel safari where we can sip tea among the sand dunes before heading off to capture the sunset with our cameras. This is also a great opportunity to try out a little night photography. Dark skies, moonlight, camels and sand dunes are ingredients for some potentially very interesting images. If you have the energy you can set your alarm to experience a serene desert sunrise.

Deposit and Cancellation Policy:

A deposit of $500 is required to secure your reservation for The Art of Seeing: India 2017 Workshop. Balance due 90 days before workshop start date.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations 120 days or more before workshop start date, 100% of deposit and fees will be refunded.

Cancellations 90-119 days before workshop start date, all fees less $500 deposit refunded.

Cancellations 31-89 days before workshop start date, 50% of all fees/deposit refunded.

Cancellations 30 days or less before workshop start date are not eligible for any refund.

Workshop Cancellation Policy

While we have never cancelled a workshop to date, if we must cancel or change dates for a scheduled workshop for any reason, you may transfer your full workshop payment to another workshop, or you may request a refund of your payments to us, constituting a full settlement. The Art of Seeing is not responsible for client expenses such as airline tickets incurred in preparation for a canceled workshop. A travel insurance policy which covers medical evacuation is a requirement for participation in this workshop. Many of these policies also cover trip cancellation as well.

FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions):

Q: Should I buy travel insurance?

A: Yes. In fact, proof of insurance that includes medical evacuation coverage is a requirement for participation in this workshop. I like to use World Nomads for insurance when traveling abroad but there are many options out there.

Q: Do I need a visa to enter India?

A: If you are an American citizen, an Indian Tourist Visa is required. The easiest way to obtain one is to apply for an eTourist Visa (eTV) online. If you are a citizen of another country, check online or with the Indian consulate in your country.

Q: What kind of accommodations will we be staying in?

A: Our lodgings in general will be quite luxurious even by western standards with amenities like air conditioning, wifi, room service and laundry services. We may occasionally stay in a Haveli (traditional) style hotel. These are usually renovated historic mansions that may lack some modern conveniences but make up for it with their unique architecture and charm.

Q: What kind of food will be available?

A: Breakfast and dinner will almost always include both western and local options. Western cuisine may not always be available for lunch if we are eating 'in the field'. Beef is generally not available but chicken and fish are common. Vegetarians will have no problem in India. Contact us if you have any dietary needs or restrictions.

Q: What will the weather be like?

A: March is an ideal time to travel in northern India weatherwise. The climate should be generally warm and dry throughout our itinerary. As an example, the average high daily temp in New Delhi in March is 82°F/28°C and low temp of 59°F/15°C.

Q: How will we travel inside India?

A: Planes, trains and automobiles :). In general, we will get around in an air conditioned minibus with a professional driver. There is one domestic flight and one overnight train trip on our itinerary.

I make pictures. All kinds of pictures but mostly nature and travel pictures. I am passionate about making photographs but also the creative process that produces them. I know some secrets. Creativity can be learned, the Photographer’s Eye is a matter of practice. I like to help others grow as photographers. I usually do this by taking Read More →

Our India photography workshop itinerary covers the best of the must see monuments including the incomparable Taj Mahal but we veer off the beaten path as often as possible in search of more genuine visions of Indian life, such as: the Holi Festival of Colors, the magnificent Taj Mahal, Varanasi on the Ganges, Jodhpur (aka the Blue City) and a camel safari in the Thar! desert.